Key Points
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Murder-suicide case reflects the domestic violence crisis South Africa faces.
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Authorities stress policing alone won’t fix gender-based violence.
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A national mindset shift is needed to combat rising femicide rates.
A tragic murder-suicide in Serutube village, North West, has renewed attention on South Africa’s domestic violence crisis. A 65-year-old man allegedly killed his 42-year-old partner. He then took his own life.
Police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh said a neighbor reported the crime on April 28. The neighbor found the woman’s body with visible injuries. Inside the same home, the man had hanged himself.
This was the second murder-suicide in the area that week. These repeated incidents highlight the rising wave of domestic violence crisis South Africa continues to face. Communities remain shaken, and trust in personal safety has begun to erode.
Police stress the limits of law enforcement
Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, voiced frustration. He said that building more police stations and increasing patrols won’t stop gender-based violence.
“These crimes happen in homes, schools, and even churches,” he said. “They often involve people we trust — sometimes even religious leaders.”
Asaneng emphasized that solutions must go beyond the justice system. While the police use tools like protection orders and Victim-Friendly Rooms, these aren’t enough. Without a shift in values and community behavior, the violence will continue.
Furthermore, he urged people to stop expecting only the police to fix the problem. Instead, he called on communities, leaders, and families to work together to create safer environments.
Public must replace blame with real action
Asaneng criticized how the public reacts to gender-based violence. He noted that people often blame police after each tragedy. However, this reaction doesn’t fix anything.
“Conferences and campaigns alone are not working,” he said. “We need to link substance abuse, violence, and broken social values. Only then can we move forward.”
He believes South Africa must take bold steps to rebuild its moral fabric. Without this shift, he warned, incidents like this murder-suicide will continue to rise.
The recent deaths in Serutube village serve as a painful reminder. We must act fast — not only with law enforcement but also with education, leadership, and community accountability.
